BROWSING the list of surviving Brothers Cricket Club life members highlights the quality people associated with one of Ipswich’s most iconic sporting organisations.
The impressive list features family connections like Kev, Brent and Mark Kinnane – and deceased great Les Kinnane - along with current president Leo Conway and his brothers Greg and Andrew.
Other life members from past decades include Tony Merrell, Kerry Heffernan, Graham Hall, Brian Andrews, Tony Gill, Kerry Scriven, Shaun Madson, Craig Mackay, Mal Nienhuis, Dave Richardson, Mark Sharrad, Nev Paulsen and the most recent recipient Ben McAteer.
As the club prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary on July 5, Leo Conway said the life members were more than loyal cricket supporters.
“There’s some excellent people in there,” Conway said.
“They are people who get things done.
“The people we have, not only with Brothers Cricket Club, are under the umbrella of the Brothers Kindreds Clubs.”
That includes Brothers diverse network of sports including hockey, basketball and netball, along with the annual junior sportstar presentations.
Conway (pictured) said seeing the club’s resilience is what gives him most satisfaction serving as president for a second stint.
“It’s watching the club start high, probably fall down and get up again,” he said.
“It’s always been there and there will always be a place for the Brothers club.”
Brothers Cricket Club was formed in 1949 after breaking away from CYMS (Catholic Young Men’s Society), a diverse sporting club at the time.
Kev Laimer was a club founder and first life member who shared many stories at Brothers’ 50th anniversary reunion at Booval Bowls Club.
Laimer said Brothers’ origins were with Christian Brothers in 1932 before changing to Past Brothers for a few years before becoming CYMS.
The new Brothers club was formed in the 1949 season after some differences of opinions over where school cricketers should play.
Next month’s function is at Brothers Leagues Club where Conway expects a strong turnout to reminisce about past achievements and memorable moments.
He said photos, memorabilia, trophies and other club history would be displayed to rekindle old stories.
Conway played for the club, mainly as a right-arm fast bowler, from under 16s in 1976.
Former rugby league great Gary Coyne was Conway’s first captain.
After finishing his playing career, he devoted his energy to the committee serving as a secretary, treasurer and president during the 1980s.
He is in his ninth year as club president a second time.
The most recent Brothers A-Grade premiership was won in the 2017-18 season.
A year later, a majority of the side retired together.
Brothers have spent the past few years promoting young players and rebuilding in the Cricket Ipswich competition.
The first A-Grade premiership was in 1952-53 before more success in 1955-56.
The following decade was memorable with victories in 1960-61, 1962-63, 1966-67, 1968-69 and 1969-70.
Brothers regained A-Grade honours in 1974-75, before more glory in 1980-81, 1986-87, 1988-89, 1991-92, 1998-99, 2003-04 and 2011-12.
Conway was pleased to have four senior teams and 10 junior sides in the latest 2023-24 season.
“So very, very good numbers playing and training,” he said.
“Cricket seems to have made a little bit of a resurgence.
“The vibe around the club in the last couple of years has been really, really good.”